Nttt-cracking machine



March 8, 1932. E. .PICKETT now CRACKING MACHINE Filed Aug. 26, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l March 8, 1932. E. PICKETT 1,848,495

NUT CRACKING MACHINE Filed Aug. 26, 1929 2 SheetsSheet 2- i i w IIJ- I x 1 l HH -fi HIHIIIIEIHHHHU fzz eizior Patented Mar. 8, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EDWIN PICKETT, F FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS, .ASSIGNOR TO BLOIDGET'I NUT COM- PANY, OF FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS NUT-CRACKING MACHINE Application filed August 26, 1929.

The invention relates to improvements in nut-cracking machines in which a motor driven hammer crushes nuts against an anvil. The objects of the improvements are, first,

6 to increase the output without a correspond ing increase in motive power; second, to atford facilities for two or more men to work independently of each other with the same machine; third, to reduce the cost of making the machines as well as to reduce the cost of nut production and fourth prevent the broken nut-shells from flying in the air.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a front view of Plate 1 which carriesthe cam and gears. A similar Plate 2 (Fig. 2) is shown with corresponding shaft bearings, and adapted to be removed, if necessary, without dis-assembling Plate No. 1 and its component parts. Both plates are secured by cap screws to the base (No. 3) a plan of which is shown in Figure 2. Figures 8 and 4 show a new and improved set of tongs tor especial use in this machine. Figures 5 and 6 show a nut-cracking machine with a horizontal working plate and three jaws, each with its hammer and anvil.

-The vertical plates 1 and 2, with the base 3) secured to a table, constitute the frame work or" the machine. Anvils e and separators 10, bolted to the plates, provide a fixed space for the working parts. The hammers 5, pivoted on their shafts 8, and connected by the spring 7, are arranged to move separately and successively toward and away from the anvils 1 by the rotary action of the cam 6. The plates are provided with tapered slots 17 each of which, with a fixed anvil and moving hammer, constitutes a nut crushing jaw.

The cam is arranged centrally with re spect to the said hammers and anvils, two or moresets of which may be used-one hammer operating while the others are at rest.

A train of gears, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16 placed on the vertical center line of the machine, reduces the cam motion to the desired speed. The cam and gears thus arranged permit any number of crushing units to operate independently and all at the same speed.

Serial No. 38%,288.

A motor, bolted on the base extension, imparts power to the machine by the motor gear 9 engaging gear 1:2. All gears are enclosed in the gear guard 18 shown in Figure 1, but omitted in Fig. 2.

Figures 3 and 4: show top and side views of an adjustable tongs for holding nuts in the crushing jaws. A fiat piece of spring steel. 20 bent to form two arms and having the ends curved for grasping the nuts, as shown, comprises the body of the tongs. Flat wings 21, of similar material, with ends shaped to conform to the upper curved end of the body and placed thereon, one right and one left, pivoted as at 22, with a spring holding the lugs against the body and the ends of the wings spread apart, give protection against flying: pieces of nut shell. The winged tongs, placed in the tapered slots 17, adapt themselves readily to the movable width of the aw, as shown in Figures 2 and 5.

I do not limit myself as to the size or shape or" the working plates. Figures 5 and 6 show a circular plate, with three crushing aws, arran ed to be placed horizontally on a table 19. All working parts, including hammers, anvils, cam and gears are placed underneath the plate. The centrally arranged cam moves each hammer successively, all at an equal speed, and with motive power sufficient only for the requirement of one Three men can operate at this machine, using the tongs as herein described and without loss of flying parts of nuts.

I am aware that prior to my invention nutcraclting machines have been made with a crushing aw operated by a cam and motor.

I claim:

A nut-cracking machine comprising working plates having a plurality of slots converging towards the center and open the periphery, a plurality of sets of hammers and anvils adjacent to said slots, and a cam centrally placed between said hammers and arranged to operate them sing, in consecutive order, and a nut tongs h. ving movable wings adapted to cover a nut and close said wings by contact with said hammer and anvil.

EDWIN PIOKET T 

